A/N: Hey you guys! ( ha, do the truffle shuffle!) I am soooooo sorry this took so long, one of my Betas ran away again, so I'm posting it with only one seal of approval. This chapter is a little short, but the next one is halfway done. And, do you guys prefer longer chapters farther apart, or shoter chapters every week? I just don't know, so I'm leaving it up to you guys! Thanks again to my wonderful betas, I love them sooooo much!

Disclaimer- Not mine.

Chapter three

Raito was very aware of the odd looks they were getting from the moment they stepped out on to the sidewalk. He was used to being stared at, but not quite to this degree, and certainly not for this reason. But he was outside for the first time in forever, and damn it he was going to make the most of it!

"Hey, Ryuzaki, where exactly are we going? I don't think I've ever been out to eat around here before."

"That is the point, Raito-kun. I wanted your birthday to be special, so I made reservations at a very nice restaurant. I am not going to tell Raito-kun which one. It must be a surprise."

Raito huffed loudly and crossed his arms. Fine, L wanted to play it that way, huh? Well fine. I have my ways…

"Ryuzaki", asked Raito innocently, twirling a piece of hair around his finger, "Do you think we could stop at a grocery store on the way back?"

"I'm sure Watari would not mind getting something for you Raito-kun. What was it you needed?"

Raito was irritated at L's disinterest. He was looking mournfully at his shoes, seemingly ignoring Raito completely as the younger boy sidled closer to him. He looked up, eyes widening in shock, as Raito entwined their fingers.

"Oh, you know," Raito purred, "I was working on a new recipe. For cookies. Chocolate chip, pecan, oatmeal cookies."

Raito smiled triumphantly as L swallowed thickly, his eyes closed in pleasure.

"Mmmmmm… Raito-kun, I suppose we do not have to go to lunch. We could just… No! I see what Raito is trying to do and it will not work! He will not use his dirty cookie talk on me!"

Damn! I was so close too! Wait, dirty cookie talk? Was the man serious? "Well fine, Ryuzaki, I guess I just won't make them then. Are we getting close yet? I'm getting hungry. And we had better not be going to a pastry shop either! I want real food!" Ah, why do I get so bitchy when he doesn't do what I want him to? This is terrible!

"Fear not, Raito-kun. I would say there is a 98 percent chance that Raito will enjoy the food immensely. Ah, here we are," he smiled briefly, gesturing to a nearby building, "Raito-kun, as much as I enjoy you holding my hand I'm afraid you will have to let go now. I need to pay for our food."

Raito blushed furiously, quickly letting go of the detective's hand. He looked around, trying to figure out where they were. People passed him by, giving him odd looks as the chain that kept him under L's watchful eyes became apparent. A little girl skipped up to them, smiling brightly.

"Hey, mister, are you and that man homosexicles?", asked the little girl, cuteness practically dripping off her tounge.

Raito stared at her for several seconds before fully processing what she said. Homosexicles? Homosexuals!!! That little brat thinks I'm gay! With L! Thankfully L spoke before Raito had a chance to unleash his fury at the small, innocent little girl.

"Why of course we are", said L as he knelt down to her," Why else would I be taking him out to dinner on his birthday? Well, lots of people do that, but why else would I take him on a walk through the park afterwards?"

The little girl squealed happily and ran away to tell all her friends that she had met two real live homosexicles! They would never believe her, but next time she would have pictures!

L stood back up and glanced at Raito, noting his red face and shaky hands." Hmmmm….. Raito, up by 2.346 percent for wishing harm to a child."

Raito paid no attention, his mind working to discover just where L was taking him.

Let's see, he mused, dirty old office building, no apparent signs, no waiting line… No way! It couldn't be!

"Ryuzaki," Raito was franticly trying to get L's attention as he stared fondly at a pastry shop across the street, "This isn't Aragawa, is it? You couldn't possibly be taking me to the most expensive restaurant in Japan!"

L gave a huge sigh. "I had hoped Raito-kun would not have figured it out until we got inside. I have underestimated him. Yes, this is Aragawa. Is there something wrong? Does Raito not like Kobe beef? I was 95.564 percent positive he would."

Raito sputtered for a few moments before the words would come. "You can not be serious! How the hell did you get reservations? They say the director of the NPA himself was turned away! And what do you mean, do I like Kobe beef? Its Kobe beef! This is… this is to much L, I can't accept this!"

But L was already dragging him inside, oblivious to his resistance.

They stood in a long dingy hallway, with nothing that even resembled a restaurant in sight. Raito shifted slightly, unable to suppress the feeling that he about to do something illegal. This feeling intensified as a man materialized out of the darkness, his hair slicked back and his suite sharply pressed.

" Follow me please gentlemen, your table is ready." His voice was just as oily as his hair, smoothly managing to imply deference and superiority at the same time. He led them to an almost empty room, indicating a small table in the far corner. The only other occupants were two middle aged business men, intently discussing something in furious whispers.

L and Raito sat down, having a moment's trouble situating the chain. L immediately drew his knees up to his chest, making a face at his shoes.

"So Raito-kun, would you like the 12oz or the 24?", asked the detective casually, as if either one didn't cost a small fortune.

"Ummmm…. Well why don't we split one Ryuzaki?" Raito was desperately trying to make this little outing cost as little as possible, but L wasn't having it.

"Nonsense Raito-kun, I don't like Kobe beef, I find it overrated."

"What?! Then why on earth did we come here?"

L looked perplexedly at Raito. "It is your birthday Raito-kun, not mine. I wanted to do something special for you. Isn't that what friends do?"

Raito looked down at the steak that had magically appeared in front of him, feeling ridiculously special.

"Yeah, he mumbled, I guess they do." L smiled brightly, pleased that this part of his plan had gone well.

Now, for faze two……

A/N: Hi again! So, please review, they give me life! I have a new plan, the first review for every chapter can ask me any question about the story. So pretty please?